Of Good Health

Look, when I first started experiencing perimenopause, I thought I had it all figured out. Hot flashes? Check. Night sweats? Obviously. Mood swings? Sure, I’d heard about those.

But nobody—and I mean nobody—prepared me for the weird stuff that came along with it.

I remember sitting in my doctor’s office feeling like I was losing my mind, describing symptoms that sounded absolutely ridiculous out loud. Turns out, I wasn’t alone. Women can experience over 34 different symptoms during menopause, and many of them fly completely under the radar in typical conversations about “the change.”

So here’s my frank rundown of the menopause symptoms that blindsided me—the ones I wish someone had mentioned before I started googling “why do my teeth hurt for no reason” at 2 AM.

1. Electric Shock Sensations

This was the first one that made me think something was seriously wrong. I’d be sitting at my desk, totally calm, and suddenly feel like someone had zapped me with a cattle prod. These quick, sharp jolts would shoot through my head or limbs without warning.

Scared the heck out of me the first dozen times it happened. Turns out, these electric shock sensations are related to hormonal fluctuations affecting your nervous system. They usually happen right before a hot flash, which makes sense now, but didn’t help when I thought I was having some kind of neurological episode.

2. Burning Mouth Syndrome

Here’s a fun one: my tongue started burning like I’d just eaten the world’s spiciest salsa, except I hadn’t eaten anything at all. This went on for weeks before I connected it to menopause.

Burning mouth syndrome affects somewhere between 18-33% of menopausal women, but it’s rarely discussed in those “what to expect” pamphlets. The metallic taste that came with it was just the cherry on top. I went through about fifteen different toothpastes before realizing it wasn’t a dental problem.

3. Formication (The Crawling Skin Thing)

No, that’s not a typo. Formication is the medical term for feeling like bugs are crawling on or under your skin. I’d be lying in bed and swear something was crawling up my arm, but when I’d look—nothing there.

It’s caused by estrogen decline affecting your sensory nerves, and it’s absolutely maddening. Some nights I’d wake up scratching phantom itches that weren’t even real itches. My husband thought I’d developed some compulsive behavior until I finally figured out what was happening.

4. Gum Problems and Bleeding

My gums became so sensitive that flossing looked like a crime scene. I’ve always taken good care of my teeth, so this was particularly frustrating.

Estrogen plays a huge role in oral health—it helps maintain the moisture and blood flow in your gums. When those hormone levels drop, your gums can become inflamed, recede, or bleed more easily. I ended up switching to an ultra-soft toothbrush and a prescription toothpaste, which helped some.

5. Changes in Body Odor

This one was embarrassing to admit, even to myself. My body odor changed completely—not just increased, but actually smelled different. My usual deodorant stopped working, and I felt self-conscious all the time.

Hormonal changes affect your sweat glands and the bacteria on your skin, which alters how you smell. I went through probably twenty different deodorants before finding one that worked with my “new” body chemistry. Clinical strength became my best friend.

6. Heart Palpitations

The first time my heart started racing for no reason, I almost drove myself to the emergency room. I was sitting on the couch watching TV when suddenly my heart felt like it was trying to escape my chest.

According to studies in the Journal of Women’s Health, cardiovascular symptoms affect up to 25% of women during menopause, but they’re often dismissed or attributed to anxiety. These palpitations can last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes, and they’re terrifying when you don’t know what’s causing them.

I learned to track when they happened—usually tied to hot flashes or stress—which helped me feel less panicky about them.

7. Digestive Changes and Bloating

My stomach became completely unpredictable. Foods I’d eaten my entire life suddenly gave me bloating so bad I looked six months pregnant by evening. The gas was… well, let’s just say I’m glad I could remove myself from rooms.

Lower estrogen levels slow down digestion and can alter your gut bacteria. I had to completely overhaul my diet, cutting back on processed foods and adding more probiotics. It took about three months of trial and error to figure out what my new digestive system could handle.

8. Brittle Nails That Split and Peel

I’ve never been someone who got regular manicures, but my nails had always been reasonably strong. Then suddenly they started splitting vertically down the middle and peeling in layers like some kind of gross onion.

Estrogen helps your body retain moisture, including in your nails. When it drops, your nails become dehydrated and brittle. I started taking biotin supplements and using cuticle oil religiously, which helped a bit. But honestly, I just keep my nails shorter now because I got tired of them catching on everything and tearing.

9. Tinnitus (Ringing in the Ears)

The constant ringing in your ears can start so gradually that you don’t notice it at first. Then one quiet evening, you’ll realize you couldn’t remember the last time you experienced actual silence.

Hormonal changes can affect the delicate structures in your inner ear, leading to tinnitus or making existing tinnitus worse. Some days it’s a low hum, other days it sounds like cicadas have taken up residence in my skull. White noise machines became essential for sleep.

10. Memory Lapses and Brain Fog

I saved this one for last because it scared me the most. I’d walk into rooms and completely forget why. I’d lose words mid-sentence—not complex words, but everyday words like “refrigerator” or “Wednesday.”

The brain fog made me feel like I was watching my life through a dirty window. I’d read the same paragraph four times and still not absorb the information. For someone who’d always prided themselves on being sharp, this was devastating.

Research shows that the hippocampus—the part of your brain responsible for memory—has estrogen receptors, so when estrogen levels fluctuate wildly during perimenopause and menopause, your memory and cognitive function take a hit. The good news? For most women, this improves once hormone levels stabilize post-menopause. But going through it was genuinely frightening.

What Actually Helped Me

I’m not gonna lie—there was no magic bullet that made everything better. But a few things made a noticeable difference.

First, I started hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after having a thorough conversation with my doctor about the risks and benefits. It didn’t eliminate every symptom, but it took the edge off enough that I felt human again.

Second, I completely overhauled my lifestyle. More water, regular exercise (even when I didn’t feel like it), and a Mediterranean-style diet helped with multiple symptoms at once. The exercise especially helped with the mood swings and sleep problems.

Third, I found a support group—both online and in person. Just knowing other women were experiencing the same bizarre symptoms made me feel less alone and less crazy.

The Bottom Line

Menopause is so much weirder than anyone tells you. The “classic” symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats are just the tip of the iceberg. Your body is going through a massive hormonal shift, and pretty much every system can be affected in some way.

If you’re experiencing strange symptoms in your forties or fifties, don’t brush them off. Talk to your doctor, preferably one who specializes in menopause or at least takes it seriously. Too many doctors still dismiss menopausal symptoms as “just part of aging” or suggest women should just tough it out.

You deserve to feel good in your body, no matter what decade you’re in. These symptoms are real, they’re common, and there are treatments available. You’re not imagining things, you’re not being dramatic, and you’re definitely not alone.

Keep a symptom journal to track what you’re experiencing and when—it’ll help your doctor understand what’s going on and find the right treatment approach for you. And be patient with yourself. Your body is changing in fundamental ways, and that takes time to adjust to.

Trust me, it does get better. But first, you gotta get through the weird stuff nobody warned you about.